Study reveals the need for mentoring programs for physician-scientists
L-R: Prof Richard Kitching, Prof Peter Ebeling
Physician–scientists are critical to health and medical research in Australia. They are important drivers of research in knowledge acquisition and research translation, but they face substantial challenges both in training and in their careers. These significant challenges have led to the suggestion that physician-scientists are becoming an “endangered species.”
In Australia, newly qualified physicians commonly enrol in PhD studies to train as physician–scientists. However, there is no data on the challenges that they face and the support that they want during their studies.
A new study by Professor Richard Kitching and Professor Peter Ebeling has identified these challenges faced by trainee physician-scientists during their PhD candidature and the challenges they anticipate in establishing their research independence after PhD completion. Of potential support mechanisms during their candidature, a mentoring program was the most favoured.
Professor Kitching surveyed trainee physician–scientists undertaking PhD studies within the Monash University Department of Medicine at Monash Health. Trainee physician–scientists completed a quantitative survey that identified current and future career challenges and determined the type of enrichment and support mechanisms they value most and would likely use. Participants identified areas of uncertainty, both in their current training and future careers and felt that they would benefit most from a formal mentor during their PhD candidature.
From this work, a mentoring scheme has been established at Monash University's School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health and School of Translational Medicine.
A nephrologist physician-scientist in the Department of Medicine, Professor Kitching said, "Further research and support mechanisms are needed to support the physician-scientists of the future and ensure that this critical part of the health and research workforces continues to lead improvements in the treatment of diseases and the health of Australians".
Reference:
Challenges for trainee physician–scientists during their PhD candidature: a cross-sectional study. Arthur Richard Kitching, Peter Robert Ebeling. First published: 29 April 2024 https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16396.
About Monash University
Monash University is Australia’s largest university with more than 80,000 students. In the 60 years since its foundation, it has developed a reputation for world-leading high-impact research, quality teaching, and inspiring innovation.
With four campuses in Australia and a presence in Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia and Italy, it is one of the most internationalised Australian universities.
As a leading international medical research university with the largest medical faculty in Australia and integration with leading Australian teaching hospitals, we consistently rank in the top 50 universities worldwide for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
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